Concrete pump



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lai M. M. MASON CONCRETE PUMP Aug. 16, 1966 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 Aug.` 16, 1966 M. M. MASON 3,266,433

. CONCRETE PUMP Filed Jan. 21, 1965 4 sheets-sheet zl MEHR/rr M. mso/v 5y ArroR/veys M. M. MASON CONCRETE PUMP Aug. 16, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 M. M. MASON CONCRETE PUMP Aug. 16, 1966 Filed Jan. 2l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 x Qllbm. Qm El B Ivosl R M5L vos -@-NMWN @H Y I om United States Patent O This 4invention relates t-o a device for pumping unset concrete mixtures from a hopper to a remote location.

-Many types of pumps for moving concrete mixes have lbeen tried, but nearly all employed complex or complicated mechanisms and valving arrangements; these mechanisms and .arrangements gave trouble, plugging, breaking down, or Iwearing excessively. As a result, pumped concrete was expensive, if at all practical.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pumping device free 'from springs, check valves, and other complicated mechanisms, since these were a source of .trouble and expense due to their wear and breakage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a concrete pumping device in which mechani-cal failure can be held to a minimum and therefore concrete production can be increased. To promote this object, my machine is positive in its operation.

Another object is to provide a positive-displacement type of concrete pump, so that, when my pump is connected to a suitable conduit, concrete can be delivered at points quite remote from the pump itself.

Another object is to provide a pump for moving lowslump concrete (i.e., a very dry concrete mix) through a delivery pipe to forms at a final destination.

Basically, my invention calls for only three main moving parts: a cylinder, a piston, and a gate valve. Each of these is reciprocated hydraulically in a regular sequence `relative to the other two. The machine is essentially linear in construction and can be placed in a relatively -restricted space, such as in a small tunnel. In contrast, size is frequently Va factor limiting the use of other such devices. The hydraulic pressure can be varied to suit conditions so that only the power required for a particular joib need be expended, yet sufficient force can be applied to force concrete through a delivery pipe one thousand feet or more long, if on the level.

yOther objects and advantages of the `invention will appear 4from the following description of a preferred ernbodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a v-ie-w in side elevation and. in vertical section taken longitudinally along the line 1-1 in F=IG. 2 through a mach-ine embodying .the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2 2 in FIG. 1, through the concrete-receiving hopper and the supply tube.

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, through the oil reservoir and the pumping cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section, on an e-nlarged scale, of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the pump in oper-ation at the commencement of a cycle, with both the cylinder and piston retracted.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the cylinder .moved forward to seal the area through which the piston `will subsequently move.

F-IG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the piston in the middle of its forward stroke and with the gate valve open.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an hydraulic circuit for the machine of FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram used for actuating the hydraulic circuit of FIG. 7.

r' 3,266,433 ICC Patented August 16, 1966 The concrete pump of this invention includes a receiving hopper 10 mounted on .a structural steel base :11. An opening 12 at the lower end of the hopper 10 empties into (at appropriate times) -a supply tube 13 which i-s generally cylindrical in shape with an open upper end 14 and which extends both forward of and to the rear of the hopper opening 112. Typically the -openings 12 and 14 may be about four feet long and seven inches wide.

A reciprocating cylinder 1'5 is adapted to slide in a close-fitting relationship to the tube 113. It is reciprocated by a hydraulic ram .16 from a rear position shown in FIG. 4, where the forward end 17 of the cylinder 15 is to the rear of the openings 12 and 1-4, to a forward position shown in FIGS. 5 and -6 and where the end 17 is beyond and ahead of the openings 12 and 14 and sealed on a front por-tion 18 of the supply tube 13.

My pump also has a reciprocating piston 20 which is reciprocated by a hydraulic ram 21 to move forward and hack inside the reciprocating cylinder 15. I also provide a gate valve 22 .actuated by a hydraulic device 23 to open and close a connection from the supply tube 13 to a suitable -conduit 24 of a desired length.

At the start of a pumping cycle (FIG. 4) the reciprocating cylinder 15 and the piston `20 are both retracted Ibehind the openings 12 and 14, and the gate valve 22 is closed. Concrete falls yfreely `from the hopper 10 into the supply tube 13, iilling that tube Iby gravity.

The cycle begins with the hydraulic rarn 16 moving the cylinder 15 forward, as shown in FIG. 5. This lls the cylinder 15 with concrete and the overlap of the lcylinder 15 beyond both ends of the openings 12 and 14, preferably about three inches at each end, forms a seal and prevents flow from the cylinder 15 back into the hopper 10.

I'l'ihe cycle continues as shown in FIG. 6 with the gate valve 22 being opened Iby its hydraulic device 23 and the piston 20 being moved forward by its ram 21, forcing concrete into the delivery conduit 24 during the full length of the s-troke of the ram 21 and piston 20. If there is any concrete in the conduit 2-4 already, it is forced forward therein by the same amount, the length of the stroke of the ram 21 and piston 20.

At the end of the yforward stroke of the piston 20, the gate valve 22 is closed, to prevent iback flow or back suction; then both the piston 20 and the cylinder 1S are i retracted, preferably simultaneously, by their rams 21 and .16. This returns them to their FIG. 4 position, land more concrete lfalls from the hopper .10' into the supply tube 13. The cycle is then repeated, resulting in actually intermittent but, in effect, substantially continuous, flow of concrete from an outlet end of the delivery conduit 24.

Mixed concrete may -be supplied to the hopper 10 direct from a concrete mixer or by a belt conveyor or by buckets or by any other suitable means. The concrete may have iine aggregate or coarse aggregate or mixtures thereof, as well as the cement.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the hydraulic rams 16, 21 and 23 may be controlled by a series of solenoid valves, which may themselves be manually or automatically controlled.

Solenoids 30 and 31 may control a four-way valve 32 that, in turn, determines whether the ram 23 will open or close the gate valve 22. When the solenoid 31 is energized, it actuates the valve 32 to the position that opens the gate valve 22, while energization of the solenoid 26 actuates the valve 32 to the position that closes the gate valve 22.

Solenoids 33 and 34 may control a four-way valve 35 that, in turn, determines whether the ram 21 will move the piston 20 outwardly or retract it. Energization of the solenoid 33 causes the piston 20 to move out and pump concrete, while energization of the solenoid 34 causes retraction of the piston 20.

Solenoids 36 and 37 may control a four-way valve 38, which, in turn, determines whether the ram 16 will advance or retract the cylinder 15. Energization of the solenoid 36 causes the cylinder 15 to advance to its cutoff position, while energization of the solenoid 37 causes the retraction of the cylinder to open the opening 14. An adjustable restrictor valve 39 may be used to synchronize the movements of the rams 16 and 21, since the cylinder 15 and piston 20 are to move together during retraction.

A motor 40 may operate a pump 41 to draw oil from a tank 42 through a filter 43 and supply it to a conduit 44 at a pressure measured by a gauge 45. During operation, a directional valve 46 connects the conduit 44 to a conduit 47 that leads to the three valves 32, 35, and 38. A relief valve 48 may be provided to avoid excessive pressure.

Four switches 50, 51, 52 and 52 may be used to control the solenoids 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, and 37, either manually, by buttons 54, 55, 56, and 57, or automatically by use of a clock switch 58. Thus, when the switch 50 is closed, the solenoids and 36 are actuated, thereby simultaneously actuating the valves 32 and 38 so as to cause the ram 23 to open the gate valve 22 and also to cause the ram 16 to advance the cylinder 15, filling the cylinder and closing the opening 14. Then, after a delay, the switch 51 is closed to energize the solenoid 33 that actuates the valve t0 the position where the ram 21 advances the piston 20, sending a charge of concrete through the gate 22 into the conduit 24. Next, after delay for completion of the pumping operation, the switch 52 is closed, energizing the solenoid 31, which moves the valve 32 and thereby causes the ram 23 to close the gate valve 22. Finally, the switch 53 is closed to energize simultaneously the solenoids 34 and 37 to move the valves 35 and 38 to the position where the rams 21 and 16 retract simultaneously the piston 20 and the cylinder 15. With the clock switch 58, the completed cycle may immediately lead to the beginning of the next cycle.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differingv a hopper for concrete having an opening in its lower end,

a supply tube having an inlet opening in its upper end aligned with said hopper opening and having a cylindrical rear end and a cylindrical forward end,

a cylinder mounted for reciprocation in said supply tube and longer than said inlet opening, for movement between a rear position where said cylinder is withdrawn from said inlet opening and a forward position where it fully closes said inlet opening and confines within itself concrete which dropped by gravity from said hopper into said supply tube,

a piston reciprocatable in said cylinder from said rear end toward said forward end,

a gate valve normally closing the forward end of said supply tube,

first hydraulic means for moving said cylinder between its rear position and its forward position,

second hydraulic means for opening and closing said gate valve, and

third hydraulic means for moving said piston between its rear position and its forward position.

2. The device of claim 1 including first actuation means for simultaneously actuating said rst and second hydraulic means for opening said gate valve and moving said cylinder to its forward position,

second actuation means for actuating said third hydraulic means for moving said piston to its forward position,

third actuation means for actuating said second hydraulic means to close said gate valve, and

fourth actuation means for simultaneously actuating said rst and third hydraulic means to move said cylinder and said piston to their rear positions.

3. The device of claim 2 having means for automatically and cyclically and successively actuating said rst, second, third, and fourth actuation means with a suitable timed interval between each actuation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,854,170 9/1958 Borgardtetai 103-227 FOREIGN PATENTS 529,588v s/1956 Canada.

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Examiner. 

1. A CONCRETE PUMPING DEVICE, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION: A HOPPER FOR CONCRETE HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS LOWER END, A SUPPLY TUBE HAVING AN INLET OPENING IN ITS UPPER END ALIGNED WITH SAID HOPPER OPENING AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL REAR END AND A CYLINDRICAL FORWARD END, A CYLINDER MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION IN SAID SUPPLY TUBE AND LONGER THAN SAID INLET OPENING, FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A REAR POSITION WHERE SAID CYLINDER IS WITHDRAWN FROM SAID INLET OPENING AND A FORWARD POSITION WHERE IT FULLY CLOSES SAID INLET OPENING AND CONFINES WITHIN ITSELF CONCRETE WHICH DROPPED BY GRAVITY FROM SAID HOPPER INTO SAID SUPPLY TUBE, A PISTON RECIPROCATABLE IN SAID CYLINDER FROM SAID REAR END TOWARD SAID FORWARD END, A GATE VALVE NORMALLY CLOSING THE FORWARD END OF SAID SUPPLY TUBE, FIRST HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CYLINDER BETWEEN ITS REAR POSITION AND ITS FORWARD POSITION, SECOND HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID GATE VALVE, AND THIRD HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PISTON BETWEEN ITS REAR POSITION AND ITS FORWARD POSITION. 